Row vs. Street: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 3, 2023
"Row" primarily refers to a linear arrangement of items, while "Street" is a public road in a city or town.
Key Differences
"Row" and "Street" are common terms that, though sometimes overlapping, predominantly have distinct meanings. A "Row" typically signifies a linear arrangement or sequence, like a row of trees or houses. In some contexts, particularly in British English, "row houses" might refer to houses attached in a line. Conversely, the primary definition of "Street" is a paved public road in a city, town, or village, usually with houses or other buildings alongside.
In some historical or regional contexts, "Row" can also denote specific streets or areas, such as "The Shambles" in York, England, sometimes called a row. However, this is less common. On the other hand, "Street" is universally recognized as a term for a public roadway in urban or suburban settings. The importance of streets in community organization and urban planning cannot be overstated, acting as conduits for transportation, business, and social interactions.
When contrasting "Row" and "Street," it's essential to recognize their respective versatility. While "Row" can indicate an argument or dispute ("They had a row"), "Street" often carries cultural, social, or economic implications, as in "Wall Street" representing the financial sector.
In everyday usage, "Row" and "Street" rarely lead to confusion given their distinct definitions. If someone refers to a "row of shops," they're highlighting the linear arrangement. In contrast, mentioning "the shops on the street" emphasizes the location along a specific road.
To summarize, while "Row" and "Street" both have connections to urban settings and arrangements of buildings, their primary definitions and usages diverge significantly, with "Row" emphasizing linear arrangement and "Street" focusing on urban roadways.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
Linear arrangement of items
Public road in a city or town
Contextual Usage
Can denote specific streets or areas
Universally a roadway
Versatility
Has meanings outside of arrangement
Often carries broader cultural meanings
Common Setting
Often used in contexts of order/sequence
Predominantly urban
Physical Connotation
Emphasizes alignment
Emphasizes pathway
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Row and Street Definitions
Row
A linear arrangement of objects or people.
The row of trees provided shade.
Street
A public road in a city or town.
The parade will march down Main Street.
Row
A series of connected houses.
She lived in a row house downtown.
Street
A particular area of activity or expertise.
He's trying to make it in the world of Wall Street.
Row
A loud quarrel or dispute.
They had a major row over finances.
Street
Abbr. St. A public way or thoroughfare in a city or town, usually with a sidewalk or sidewalks.
Row
A series of objects placed next to each other, usually in a straight line.
Street
Such a public way considered apart from the sidewalks
Don't play in the street.
Row
A succession without a break or gap in time
Won the title for three years in a row.
Street
A public way or road along with the houses or buildings abutting it
Lives on a quiet street.
Row
A line of adjacent seats, as in a theater, auditorium, or classroom.
Street
The people living, working, or habitually gathering in or along a street
The whole street protested the new parking regulations.
Row
A continuous line of buildings along a street.
Street
Street A district, such as Wall Street in New York City, that is identified with a specific profession. Often used with the.
Row
The act or an instance of rowing.
Street
The streets of a city viewed as the scene of crime, poverty, or dereliction.
Row
A shift at the oars of a boat.
Street
The common public viewed as a repository of public attitudes and understanding.
Row
A trip or an excursion in a rowboat.
Street
Near or giving passage to a street
A street door.
Row
A noisy or quarrel or disturbance.
Street
Taking place in the street
A street brawl.
Street crime.
Row
A loud noise.
Street
Living or making a living on the streets
Street people.
A street vendor.
Row
To place in a row.
Street
Performing on the street
Street musicians.
A street juggler.
Row
To use an oar or pair of oars in propelling a boat, typically by facing the stern and pulling the oar handle toward oneself, using an oarlock as a fulcrum to push the blade backward through the water repeatedly.
Street
Crude; vulgar
Street language.
Street humor.
Row
To propel (a boat) with oars.
Street
Appropriate for wear or use in public
Street clothes.
Row
To carry in or on a boat propelled by oars.
Street
A paved part of road, usually in a village or a town.
Walk down the street until you see a hotel on the right.
Row
To use (a specified number of oars or people deploying them).
Street
A road as above, but including the sidewalks (pavements) and buildings.
I live on the street down from Joyce Avenue.
Row
To propel or convey in a manner resembling rowing of a boat.
Street
The roads that run perpendicular to avenues in a grid layout.
Row
To pull (an oar) as part of a racing crew.
Street
The people who live in such a road, as a neighborhood.
Row
To race against by rowing.
Street
The people who spend a great deal of time on the street in urban areas, especially, the young, the poor, the unemployed, and those engaged in illegal activities.
Row
To take part in a noisy quarrel or disturbance.
Street
An illicit or contraband source, especially of drugs.
I got some pot cheap on the street.
The seized drugs had a street value of $5 million.
Row
A line of objects, often regularly spaced, such as seats in a theatre, vegetable plants in a garden etc.
Street
(finance) Wall Street.
Row
A horizontal line of entries in a table, etc., going from left to right, as opposed to a column going from top to bottom.
Street
(attributive) Living in the streets.
A street cat; a street urchin
Row
An act or instance of rowing.
I went for an early-morning row.
Street
Streetwise slang.
Row
(weightlifting) An exercise performed with a pulling motion of the arms towards the back.
Street
(figuratively) A great distance.
He's streets ahead of his sister in all the subjects in school.
Row
A noisy argument.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
Street
(poker slang) Each of the three opportunities that players have to bet, after the flop, turn and river.
Row
A continual loud noise.
Who's making that row?
Street
A style of skateboarding featuring typically urban obstacles.
Row
To propel (a boat or other craft) over water using oars.
Street
(slang) Having street cred; conforming to modern urban trends.
Row
(transitive) To transport in a boat propelled with oars.
To row the captain ashore in his barge
Street
To build or equip with streets.
Row
(intransitive) To be moved by oars.
The boat rows easily.
Street
To eject; to throw onto the streets.
Row
(intransitive) To argue noisily.
Street
To heavily defeat.
Row
Rough; stern; angry.
Street
To go on sale.
Row
A noisy, turbulent quarrel or disturbance; a brawl.
Street
To proselytize in public.
Row
A series of persons or things arranged in a continued line; a line; a rank; a file; as, a row of trees; a row of houses or columns.
And there were windows in three rows.
The bright seraphim in burning row.
Street
Originally, a paved way or road; a public highway; now commonly, a thoroughfare in a city or village, bordered by dwellings or business houses.
He removed [the body of] Amasa from the street unto the field.
At home or through the high street passing.
His deserted mansion in Duke Street.
Row
The act of rowing; excursion in a rowboat.
Street
The roadway of a street{1}, as distinguished from the sidewalk; as, children playing in the street.
Row
To propel with oars, as a boat or vessel, along the surface of water; as, to row a boat.
Street
The inhabitants of a particular street; as, the whole street knew about their impending divorce.
Row
To transport in a boat propelled with oars; as, to row the captain ashore in his barge.
Street
A thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings;
They walked the streets of the small town
He lives on Nassau Street
Row
To use the oar; as, to row well.
Street
The part of a thoroughfare between the sidewalks; the part of the thoroughfare on which vehicles travel;
Be careful crossing the street
Row
To be moved by oars; as, the boat rows easily.
Street
The streets of a city viewed as a depressed environment in which there is poverty and crime and prostitution and dereliction;
She tried to keep her children off the street
Row
An arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line;
A row of chairs
Street
A situation offering opportunities;
He worked both sides of the street
Cooperation is a two-way street
Row
An angry dispute;
They had a quarrel
They had words
Street
People living or working on the same street;
The whole street protested the absence of street lights
Row
A long continuous strip (usually running horizontally);
A mackerel sky filled with rows of clouds
Rows of barbed wire protected the trenches
Street
The buildings or surroundings adjoining a road.
The entire street was decorated for the holidays.
Row
(construction) a layer of masonry;
A course of bricks
Street
Denoting someone with street-smart knowledge.
His street wisdom helped navigate challenging situations.
Row
A linear array of numbers side by side
Street
The general public; popular viewpoint.
The word on the street is that there's a new cafe opening.
Row
A continuous chronological succession without an interruption;
They won the championship three years in a row
Row
The act of rowing as a sport
Row
Propel with oars;
Row the boat across the lake
Row
A continuous line of stitches in knitting.
I just completed another row of my sweater.
Row
A horizontal layer of data in a table.
This row of the spreadsheet contains critical information.
FAQs
Can "Row" mean a street in some contexts?
Yes, especially in some historical or regional uses.
Can "Row" refer to a disagreement?
Yes, "row" can mean a loud quarrel or dispute.
Is every "Street" paved?
Typically, but it depends on the specific locality.
Does "Row" always indicate a straight line?
Typically, but context can provide more specific details.
Is a row house the same as a townhouse?
They're similar, but row houses are typically in a continuous line.
Can "Street" refer to street-smart knowledge?
Yes, it can denote practical knowledge gained from urban life.
Are streets only in urban areas?
Mostly, but smaller towns and even some villages have streets.
Do all cities have streets?
Most do, but the naming might vary (e.g., avenue, lane).
What's the cultural significance of "Wall Street"?
It represents the financial sector, especially in the U.S.
Is every row orderly?
Not necessarily, but the term implies some form of arrangement.
How do streets play a role in urban planning?
Streets are fundamental for transportation, business, and community interaction.
Can "Street" be used figuratively?
Yes, e.g., "taking it to the streets" means public protest or action.
Is "Street" always public?
Typically, but there can be private streets in certain communities.
Do streets always have buildings?
Not always, but many streets, especially in urban areas, are lined with buildings.
Can "Row" refer to data?
Yes, in tables or databases, a "row" is a horizontal set of data points.
Does "Row" have musical connotations?
Yes, e.g., "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is a popular song.
How does a row differ from a column?
A row is horizontal, while a column is vertical.
What denotes the end of a street?
It can vary; streets might end in cul-de-sacs, intersections, or landmarks.
Can "Row" and "Street" be used interchangeably?
Rarely, and usually only in specific historical or regional contexts.
Are all rows physical?
No, they can be conceptual, like rows in data.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
